Travel: Pages of history: Walk in authors’ footsteps on the Southern Literary Trail

Marci DeWolf More Content Now

Thursday

Jul 11, 2019 at 11:27 AMJul 11, 2019 at 11:27 AM

Southern literary towns bring to life the fascinating people and places we read about or see in the movies. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Gone with the Wind” are rooted in the fabric of Southern lore and legend. The Southern Literary Trail covers a vast, colorful region of America that spotlights the towns where famous authors lived and worked.

Many of these places don’t have world famous museums or concert halls, but the towns themselves are the attraction. Talking to the residents, touring their treasured cultural landmarks and sampling local culinary treats — this is the way to dig deep into the soul of the South.

MississippiOxford, in the northeast hills of Mississippi, is a blend of Southern charm and literary flair. The ghost of famed author William Faulkner and his beloved home, Rowan Oak, preside over a scene that would surprise and delight him. Here, the past and modern hip culture co-exist, inspired by the town’s urbane university vibe, elegant architecture and musical heritage.

A Nobel Prize-winning author, Faulkner wrote vividly about his surroundings. Telling tales of colorful Southern characters, he boldly shared the roots and sentiments of rural America in poetry, short stories and novels.

Faulkner and his family resided at Rowan Oak from l930 until his death in l962. There, he wrote such masterpieces as “Light in August” and “A Fable.” The house, which is open to visitors, is named after the rowan tree, believed to hold magic powers of protection.

Oxford, hometown of the University of Mississippi, or Ole Miss, is brimming with literary footprints. Best-selling author and screenwriter John Grisham was born in Arkansas but moved here in l990, where he focused on writing his popular novels. The statue of civil rights activist and writer James Meredith, the first black student admitted to the university in 1962, stands in front of the school.

Oxford is also a haven for artists and readers. An amazing array of material is at Square Books — a complex of three bookstores a hundred feet apart on the historic square. People enjoy browsing the square’s antique shops and boutiques, riding the area bike trails and attending cultural festivals.

The popular red Double Decker Bus Tours give an hourlong overview of major points of interest, and are usually scheduled before Ole Miss sports events in the fall.

Thacker Mountain Radio, a live weekly program, offers visitors and locals a taste of old-time radio shows with visiting authors, songwriters and musical performers. The magic happens on Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Off Square Books in Courthouse Square, with some shows at the Lyric Theatre. Go to thackermountain.com for a full schedule.

For lodging, the Graduate Oxford hotel is a good landing spot for the literary-minded traveler. It has a collegiate theme and modern, chic décor. The lobby bar is filled with books. The 38-unit Chancellor’s House has a grandiose, elegant ambience, complete with formal tea room and a reading room decorated with Faulkner portraits. The hotel has its own restaurant.

Big Bad Breakfast is a well-loved morning restaurant option. Saint Leo and fine-dining City Grocery for dinner are also favorites.

GeorgiaThe name of American Gothic author Flannery O’Connor is synonymous with the city of Milledgeville, Georgia. O’Connor lived at her estate, Andalusia, from l951 to l964. She suffered from lupus but completed the bulk of her literary work there, including “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” In 2017 the O’Connor family gave Andalusia to Georgia College, her alma mater. Today, Andalusia is a museum exhibiting the times of the farming community in which she lived.

Milledgeville, southeast of Atlanta, was the capital of Georgia during the Civil War. Billed as the First Lady of Georgia, it is the quintessential Southern town. The city offers guided trolley tours to see the sights. The 1839 Old Governors Mansion and Rose Hill, an exquisite Greek Revival house in Lockerly Arboretum, are open for tours.

There are far more sites to explore on the trail. For more information, visit southernliterarytrail.org.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.